Chair



March '18, 1947.

w. OVERDICK 2,417,439

CHAIR Filed Aug. 9, 1944 2 Sheet s-Shee t 1 IN VEN TOR. MDT/L4H OVERDICKATTORNEY March 18, 1947- w. OVERDICK 2,417,439

' CHAIR I Filed Aug. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN-TOR. WILLIAMOVERDIcK A TTORNEY Patented Mar. 18, 1947 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICECHAIR William Overdick, New York, N. Y.

Application August 9, 1944, Serial No.'548,670

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to chairs, and aims to provide a chair of noveland practical construction which may be readily adjusted to alter therelative position of its parts to provide different types ofaccommodations. For instance, the chair is readily adjustable to providea relatively high or a relatively low seat, a hammock or bed, and also,when in folded or collapsed condition, a stretcher. A chair of the sortherein disclosed could be advantageously used in hospitals or rest campsor homes for convalescing casualties of the armed forces and therebyfacilitate and speed their complete recovery.

The above and other objects will be set forth in the followingdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whereincharacters of reference refer to like-named parts in the description. Itis to be noted that the draw ings are intended for the purpose ofillustration only, and that it is neither intended nor desired to limitthe invention necessarily to the specific details of construction shownexce ting insofar as they may be deemed essential to the invention.

Referring briefly to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the :chair with the seat in oneposition.

Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view-of the seat in folded or collapsedcondition, in which 'condition it may be used as a stretcher.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the upper part of thechair of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevat onal View of the chair when used as a hammock orbed.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an attachment adapted to be insertedinto the forward frame member of the chair to increase the length of theseat for use as a hammock or bed as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the nu-- merals l and H indicatethe forward and rear frame members respectively, which are formed of twoparallel legs l2 and I3, respectively united by cross members l4 and Irespectively at the bottom and cross members [6 and I1 respectively atthe top. The two members in and H are mutually hinged together at theirupper ends by providing hinges l8 having their leaves secured to theupper cross members l6 and I1.

A frame member IQ is pivotally secured at one end at 20 to the framemembers I!) and extends forward therefrom to provide a shade for thechair; the frictional engagement of the sides of this member with theframe members permits of its being frictionally held in any positionwithin the limit of its swing.

A sheet of canvas or the like 2| has its upper end stretched and securedby any suitable means, as by tacks l'ila, between the boundaries of theframe member l9, and passes around the cross member I! and down the rearframe member I l. Partway down a transverse opening is formedtransversely through the canvas by means of a strip 22 sewed thereonalong the upper and lower edges-of the strip, and a cross member 23 isloosely inserted into the said opening, the member 23 being longer thanthe distance between legs l3 so that it lies against the latter and isadapted to slide up or down the rear frame to carry the canvas with it.A second cross member 24, of substantially the same dimensions as themember 23, is secured below the latter to the legs I3 and the canvas 2|is passed therearound. A loose cross member 25 is slidably positionedbetween the'front legs l2 and'has ears on the ends thereof, 26,contacting the front edges of these legs. The lower end of the canvas 2|is secured about the member 25.

Openings are provided through the ears 2%, through which ropes 2'! arepassed up the forward edges of the legs [2, through openings in theupper ends of these legs, rearward over the tops of the rear legs l3,through openings in the cross member 23, and knots are formed on thelower extremities of the ropes just below the member 23. The forwardends of the ropes 21 are adapted to be tied about the cross member I4,and when this is done it is apparent that the canvas 2| provides anarched seat, as shown in Fig. 2. The weight of a person sitting in thisseat tautens the canvas and thereby secures the slidable cross members23 and 25 fixedly. A cushion 28 is provided at the head position of thecanvas, by securing its upper edge to the frame members l3.

Transverse openings pass centrally through the cross members I4 and I5,and the former has a hollow sleeve 28a frictionally held therein andextending therethrough, with the rear end formed into a hook 29. A rope30, secured to the rear member i5, passes through the tube 28, and it isapparent that loosening or taking up on this rope will increase ordecrease the distance between the front and rear members H1 and H. Therope 30 may be secured at its free end about the hook 29.

Strips of canvas or the like 3| have their upper ends 3hr narrowed toform strings, and they are suspended from the ends of the cross member23 by tying the strings about the ends of the latter their lower endsare secured by blocks or the like 32 to the front legs I2. These stripsobviously serve as arm rests.

The manner of converting the chair from the form shown in Fig. 2 to thatof Fig. 3, and vice versa, is obvious. It may also obviously be formedinto a hammock or bed by lowering the member 23 and spreading the framemembers I!) and I l, in which condition it will resemble Fig. 5.

In the latter figure, however, an extension frame has been added. Thiscomprises'the frame 33 having spaced legs 34 provided with a lowercross.

member 35 secured thereto-and extending beyond the legs, and an uppercross member 36 also secured thereto. A cylindrical rod 31 is securedward direction, a cross member having a portion of greater length thanthe distance between said front frame legs having the extremitiesthereof frictionally engaging the front sides of said front frame legs,said last-named cross member being thereby slidably mounted on andbetween'said front frame legs in a direction at right angles to saidlast-named cross member and longitudinal ,with respect to said frontframe legs, said fabric between the upper ends of the legs 34 spacedslightly from the member 36, the space between the rod 31 and the member36 being indicated at A length or extension of canvas 39 has one endfrictionally clamped between the rod 31 and member 36 and is doubledover the top and rearward, and its other end is secured in the fashionof a strap to an elongated buckle which is shown only in end view inFig. 5 and which hangs from the bottom of the canvas 2!. When assembledas in Fig. 5, the tautness of the canvas 39 will urge the member againstthe legs 12,.and when a person lies in the bed thus formed his feet willrest on the extension frame 33. The latter may also be moved into theposition shown in broken lines in Fig. 5, as is obvious, for use of thedevice as a hammock.

The legs i2 and I3 are reinforced with lateral strips 4! of any suitablemetal.

Obviously, modifications in form and structure may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and Scope of the invention.

I claim: a I

1. A chair comprising a front and a rear frame, each of said framescomprising a pair of spaced legs, said frames being hinged together attheir upper ends, a length of fabric, means securing one end of saidlength of fabric tothe top of said frames, said fabric extending 'downon said rear frame, a cross member of greater=length than the distancebetween said rear frame legs secured to and extending across said fabricand cross member being thereby slidably mounted on said rear frame legsin a direction/at right after passing around said fixed cross member asaforesaid passing between said frames and having its free end secured tosaid last-named cross member, ropes passing slidably through the ends ofsaid last-named cross member, said front frame legs having openingsthrough the upper.

ends thereof, said ropes passing upward from said last-named crossmember along said front frame legs and through said'openings and downalong said rear frame legs and having their ends secured to saidfirst-named cross member, the other ends of said ropes extending in theopposite direction from said last-named cross member for a distance andbeing adapted to be tied'to said front frame. 5

2. .The chair set forth in claim 1, having strips of fabric secured atone end to the ends of said first-named slidable cross member and at theother end to said front frame legs above said last-named slidablecrossmember.

WILLIAM OVERlJICK. 7

REFERENCES oi'rEn The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

